Torts expects team to rebound vs. Flyers
New York Rangers goalie #30 Henrik Lundqvist makes a save during first period action at the Nassau Coliseum. (March 31, 2011) Credit: Kevin P. Coughlin
PHILADELPHIA — Which side of the Rangers will emerge today at Wells Fargo Center? The desperate group that came up with big goals and vaulted into what appeared to be secure playoff position by mid-March? Or the squad that inexplicably has come out of the dressing room lacking intensity and confidence?
With four games to play, the eighth-place Rangers’ lead in the playoff race slipped to one point over Carolina, which beat the Islanders, 4-2, last night at Nassau Coliseum.
Coach John Tortorella believes that the identity his team has forged — hard-working and resilient — will surface against the Flyers (102 points), the No. 2 team in the Eastern Conference.
“We know who we are,” Tortorella said after practice yesterday. “We need to be who we are . . . We’re not in the 13th or 14th spot. We’re right in the middle of it. We’ll respond the right way. I have full faith in them.”
That said, Tortorella tinkered with two lines, moving right wing Ryan Callahan away from long-time linemates Brandon Dubinsky and Artem Anisimov in favor of Brandon Prust. Callahan joined center Brian Boyle and Ruslan Fedotenko.
Henrik Lundqvist, pulled after two periods against the Islanders in Thursday’s 6-2 loss, will start his 23rd straight game.
At 41-32-5 (87 points), all the Rangers could do last night was watch the scoreboard and root for losses by three of the contenders for the final three playoff spots. But ninth-place Carolina (86 points) beat the Islanders, Montreal (91 points) beat the Devils and Buffalo (88 points) lost to Washington in overtime and earned a point.
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The Flyers won the four first meetings by a combined score of 15-6 before the Rangers rebounded with a 7-0 win at home. The Flyers are without injured Chris Pronger . . . Mats Zuccarello, shipped to the AHL Friday, has “lost a little confidence,” Tortorella said. “I have something to do with that because I haven’t put him on the ice a whole bunch. I can’t guarantee him the type of minutes he needs right now.”
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